Aspirator system

Abstract

An aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel. An aspirator barrel may have a first aspirator barrel segment coupled to the aspirator body and may have a second aspirator barrel segment. The second aspirator barrel segment configured to fit at least partially within the first aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in a stowed state and configured to interlock with the first aspirator barrel segment in an extended position when the aspirator barrel is in a deployed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aspirator, comprising:
 an aspirator body defining an air channel; 
 an aspirator barrel comprising a first aspirator barrel segment coupled to the aspirator body, a second aspirator barrel segment, and a third aspirator barrel segment; 
 a first interlocking portion comprising a protrusion on an inner surface of the first aspirator barrel segment; 
 a second interlocking portion comprising a recess on an outer surface of the second aspirator barrel segment; and 
 a cap coupled to a distal end of the aspirator barrel; 
 wherein the second aspirator barrel segment is configured to fit at least partially within the first aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in a stowed state and the second aspirator barrel segment is configured to interlock with the first aspirator barrel segment, via the first interlocking portion and the second interlocking portion, in an extended position when the aspirator barrel is in a deployed state; 
 the third aspirator barrel segment is configured to fit at least partially within the second aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in the stowed state and the third aspirator barrel segment is configured to interlock with the second aspirator barrel segment in an extended position when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state; 
 the second aspirator barrel segment extends past the first aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state, and the third aspirator barrel segment extends past the second aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state; 
 in the stowed state, the aspirator barrel has a first length; 
 in the deployed state, the aspirator barrel has a second length which is greater than the first length; and 
 a length of the first aspirator barrel segment is substantially equal to the first length of the aspirator barrel in the stowed state. 
 
     
     
       2. The aspirator of  claim 1 , wherein the aspirator barrel has a tapered shape. 
     
     
       3. The aspirator of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner coupled to the aspirator to form a seal between the first aspirator barrel segment and the second aspirator barrel segment. 
     
     
       4. The aspirator of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the first aspirator barrel segment is substantially flush with a distal end of the second aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in a collapsed position. 
     
     
       5. The aspirator of  claim 1 , wherein the aspirator barrel is configured to extend in response to a pressure increase within the aspirator barrel. 
     
     
       6. The aspirator of  claim 5 , wherein the cap includes a burst disk configured to rupture in response to a pressure within the aspirator barrel reaching a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
       7. The aspirator of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined pressure is selected such that the aspirator barrel is in a fully extended position in response to the pressure within the aspirator barrel being the predetermined pressure. 
     
     
       8. The aspirator of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the second aspirator barrel segment moving to the extended position, the second aspirator barrel segment moves, with respect to the first aspirator barrel segment, along a longitudinal axis in a first direction towards the distal end of the aspirator barrel. 
     
     
       9. The aspirator of  claim 8 , wherein the second aspirator barrel segment extends in the first direction from the first aspirator barrel segment in the deployed state. 
     
     
       10. The aspirator of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured to fit within the recess. 
     
     
       11. The aspirator of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface comprises at least one of an internal surface and an inner diameter surface, and the outer surface comprises at least one of an external surface and an outer diameter surface. 
     
     
       12. An evacuation system for use with an aircraft, comprising:
 an inflatable evacuation device configured to be inflated by a compressed fluid source; and 
 an aspirator coupled to the compressed fluid source and to the inflatable evacuation device, the aspirator having an aspirator barrel having a first aspirator barrel segment, a second aspirator barrel segment configured to fit at least partially within the first aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in a stowed state and configured to interlock with the first aspirator barrel segment in a telescoped position when the aspirator barrel is in a deployed state, and a third aspirator barrel segment configured to fit at least partially within the second aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in the stowed state and configured to interlock with the second aspirator barrel segment in a telescoped position when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state; and 
 a cap coupled to a distal end of the aspirator barrel; 
 wherein the first aspirator barrel segment comprises a first interlocking portion comprising a protrusion on an inner surface of the first aspirator barrel segment, and the second aspirator barrel segment comprises a second interlocking portion comprising a recess on an outer surface of the second aspirator barrel segment; 
 the second aspirator barrel segment extends past the first aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state, and the third aspirator barrel segment extends past the second aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state; 
 in the stowed state, the aspirator barrel has a first length; 
 in the deployed state, the aspirator barrel has a second length which is greater than the first length; and 
 a length of the first aspirator barrel segment is substantially equal to the first length of the aspirator barrel in the stowed state. 
 
     
     
       13. The evacuation system of  claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the second aspirator barrel segment is less than a diameter of the first aspirator barrel segment. 
     
     
       14. The evacuation system of  claim 12 , wherein the aspirator barrel is configured to extend in response to a pressure increase within the aspirator barrel. 
     
     
       15. The evacuation system of  claim 14 , wherein the distal end of the aspirator barrel extends into the inflatable evacuation device when the aspirator barrel is in a deployed state. 
     
     
       16. The evacuation system of  claim 15 , wherein the cap is configured to release in response to a pressure within the aspirator barrel reaching a predetermined pressure, and wherein the aspirator barrel directs fluid into the inflatable evacuation device. 
     
     
       17. An aircraft having an evacuation system, the aircraft comprising:
 an inflatable evacuation device configured to pack within the aircraft; and 
 an aspirator configured to be packed with the inflatable evacuation device within the aircraft, the aspirator having an aspirator barrel comprising a first aspirator barrel segment, a second aspirator barrel segment, and a third aspirator barrel segment in a telescoping arrangement; and 
 a cap coupled to a distal end of the aspirator barrel, 
 wherein the aspirator barrel is configured to be stored in a collapsed position, the second aspirator barrel segment configured to fit at least partially within the first aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in the collapsed position, and the third aspirator barrel segment configured to fit at least partially within the second aspirator barrel segment when the aspirator barrel is in the collapsed position, 
 wherein the first aspirator barrel segment comprises a first interlocking portion comprising a protrusion on an inner surface of the first aspirator barrel segment, and the second aspirator barrel segment comprises a second interlocking portion comprising a recess on an outer surface of the second aspirator barrel segment; and 
 wherein the second aspirator barrel segment extends past the first aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state, and the third aspirator barrel segment extends past the second aspirator barrel segment towards the distal end when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state; 
 in the stowed state, the aspirator barrel has a first length; 
 in the deployed state, the aspirator barrel has a second length which is greater than the first length; and 
 a length of the first aspirator barrel segment is substantially equal to the first length of the aspirator barrel in the stowed state. 
 
     
     
       18. The aircraft of  claim 17 , wherein second aspirator barrel segment is configured to interlock with the first aspirator barrel segment in a telescoped position when the aspirator barrel is in a deployed state, and the third aspirator barrel segment is configured to interlock with the second aspirator barrel segment in a telescoped position when the aspirator barrel is in the deployed state. 
     
     
       19. The aircraft of  claim 17 , wherein the aspirator barrel is configured to extend in response to a pressure increase within the aspirator barrel. 
     
     
       20. The aircraft of  claim 19 , wherein the cap is configured to release in response to a pressure within the aspirator barrel reaching a predetermined pressure, and wherein aspirator barrel directs fluid into the inflatable evacuation device.